POETIC ROOMS

Ammar Basheirwas appointed as the interior designer for the project, which he restored from a traditional Bahrain house to a boutique hotel in the city of Muharraq, NuzulAl Salam.

Photography by Guillaume de Laubier

uzul Al Salam is a government renovation project, which is part of The Year Of Zayed initiative between the UAE’s Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, and Bahrain’s Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture and Research. The hotel is situated in the old streets of Muharraq and it includes a majlis (reception area), dining room, a central courtyard, and 6 suites inspired largely by the mythical epic of Gilgamesh’s the flower of eternity. The house opens out into a central courtyard that has been completely transformed with furniture from Wiener GTV Design and Bellavista Collection nestled amongst an orangery of lemon and orange trees in the surroundings.

“Nuzul al Salam is almost like a gem nestled in the heart of old muharraq, what makes is special that is very nostalgic to people and it didn’t feel like an alien to the environment, it's the right blend, very sober yet uber chic, and it is a celebration of craftsmanship.” - Ammar Basheir

Ammar Basheir also designed a complex parametric staircase in the courtyard, made out of a combination of natural oak. 700 pieces of wood were used to make the staircase. Each piece of wood was hand carved and individually fixed. Every section was made of 3 pieces of wood connected and supported by a steel structure.

The tiles in the courtyard are custom made with a blue and green bird motif reminiscent of old colonial tiles, as well custom terrazzo in the bedrooms and bathrooms.

The majlis has been transformed into a chic reception sitting area with furniture from Bellavista Collection and Munna Design, and sheer curtains from Dedar Milano contrasted with vintage accessories like old radios and music instruments, as well as bespoke tapestry from Bokja Design with the Gilgamesh motif. The dining room is painted in rich teal, and the dining set is from Bellavista Collection along with Wiener GTV Design chairs and tapestry from Bokja Design with the Gilgamesh motif. The main feature in this room is the custom kinetic wall Kinetura Design that has a light feature with moon eclipse lights with motion sensors, and it’s been dedicated as the wall of Shaikh Zayed or The Pulse Of Zayed.

Flower of Eternity room, painted in coral walls and gorgeous gold toned drapery with custom wood furniture.

Each suite is named after a theme from the poem, Light, Vision, Flower of Eternity, Sea, Hope, and Sun. All the beds and benches are Wiener GTV Design and the fringe chairs are Munna Design. Address: House 502, Road 1611, Block 0216 - Muharraq (Bahrain)

Sun room, which is the largest suite in the hotel, painted in Tuscan sun yellow walls and a pop of lime yellow velvet fringe chair, which opens to a beautiful garden terrace with artfully arranged greenery.